Lake County gears up for $100 million construction season — big projects planned for Long Grove, Buffalo Grove

Brian O'Mahoney / News-Sun

Work continues on the new water main being installed in Historic Downtown Long Grove Thursday, April 5. This summer, the Lake County Division of Transportation plans to improve the intersection of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads.

Work continues on the new water main being installed in Historic Downtown Long Grove Thursday, April 5. This summer, the Lake County Division of Transportation plans to improve the intersection of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads. (Brian O'Mahoney / News-Sun)

Work has already begun on intersection improvements at Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads in historic downtown Long Grove, one of three major road improvement projects Lake County has planned for the year.

Crews have begun working on relocating and extending the village's water mains into downtown ahead of the planned intersection improvements set to begin later this month, said Glenn Petko, Lake County Division of Transportation's engineer of construction.

The intersection improvements include adding a traffic signal at the four-way stop, resurfacing the roadway, improving drainage and upgrading pedestrians and bicyclists accommodations, according to the project website.

The county is moving ahead with $100 million in road projects this year, despite concerns last year over local transportation work being impacted by cuts to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

No projects were delayed solely due to those cuts, Petko said.

"Projects are delayed all the time for many reasons — right of way acquisition, permits or utility relocation as the three most common," he said. "Just about every project has something along the way."

The projects moving forward are being funded using local dollars in two cases combined with federal grants.

That includes the Millburn bypass on Route 45, which — even though it involves a state route — is being 100 percent funded by the county.

The new bypass will realign Grass Lake and Millburn roads into a traditional four-way intersection and allow Route 45 drivers to skirt around the Millburn Historic District.

The county also plans on moving forward with the reconstruction and widening of Lake Zurich's Quentin Road from White Pine Road to just south of Route 22. The project will take Quentin from two lanes to five and is estimated to cost around $30 million, 80 percent of which is being covered by a federal grant.

Both the Millburn bypass the Quentin Road projects are scheduled to go out to bid on April 27, Petko said. It usually takes about a month and a half to two months for work to start following the bid, so Petko said he expects construction to start toward the end of June or after the July 4 holiday.

The Lake County Board has made transportation a priority, dedicating 100 percent of the quarter-cent sales tax to transportation, Chairman Aaron Lawlor said in an announcement this week outlining the coming road projects.

Brian O'Mahoney / News-Sun

Water main installation proceeds on Thursday, April 5, as crews prepare for intersection improvements this summer at Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads.

Water main installation proceeds on Thursday, April 5, as crews prepare for intersection improvements this summer at Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin roads. (Brian O'Mahoney / News-Sun)

"Investing in transportation is directly linked to the quality of life we cherish and strength of our local economy," he said.

Work is also set to continue on the Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake, which is being rebuilt and widened with a new center turn lane and a multi-use path connecting to Nippersink Forest Preserve.

A large culvert north of Route 120 was replaced last year ahead of the roadwork planned for this year, according to a news release.

While the Cedar Lake Road project is set to close to northbound traffic in May, Buffalo Grove's Weiland Road project won't begin until later in the year, if not early next year, according to the release.

That project will include widening Weiland from Lake Cook Road to Deerfield Parkway and adding a sidewalk and new multi-use path.

Weiland Road is the second project to have a federal grant covering 80 percent of construction costs, said Shane Schneider, the county's director of transportation.

The county also plans on resurfacing several existing roads with an eye toward extending the life of a road while minimizing costly repairs or replacements, according to County Board member Ann Maine, who chairs the public works and transportation committee.

As part of the overall construction season, bike-friendly shoulders are being added where possible.

On that list is 9th Street from Route 131 to Lewis Avenue in North Chicago; Almond Road from Washington Street to Fairfield Lane in Wildwood; Everett Road from St. Mary's Road to east of Interstate 94 overpass in Lake Forest; Kelsey Road from Route 59 to Route 22 in Lake Barrington; Kenosha Road from north of 21st Street to Route 173 in Zion; Kilbourne Road from south of Russell Road to Route 173 in Wadsworth; and St. Mary's Road from Route 60 to Everett Road in Mettawa.

Gelden Road in Lindenhurst from Deep Lake Road to Grass Lake Road will also be resurfaced, but a bike-friendly shoulder won't be added, according to the division of transportation.

These resurfacing projects typically take about three months and usually require lane closures.

The county also aims to repair and replace more old metal culverts with concrete pipe or new linings to address deterioration caused by heavy rains, according to transportation officials. On the list this year will be Kenosha Road in Zion, Gilmer Road in Hawthorn Woods, and Rollins Road between Wilson Road and Fairfield Road.

"Maintaining and preserving our current system takes top priority when putting together our annual improvement plan," Maine said in a statement. "Well planned and executed maintenance and preservation efforts not only keep our roads as safe as possible, but it also extends the life of a road minimizing costly repairs or replacements."